Educating the Next Generation

Curriculum Design

• —Prepared in-class teaching material including Born-Oppenheimer Approximation, Hartree Self-Consistent-Field (SCF) method, and Hartree-Fock theory.
• —Created structured lessons primarily focused on applications, helping students translate theoretical concepts into computational practice within quantum chemistry.

In-Class Instruction

Guided students through practical quantum chemistry calculations using Gaussian09, focusing on:

• —Molecular geometry and energy optimization
• —Vibrational frequency analysis
• —Construction of potential energy surfaces (PES)
• —Transition state identification and reaction path mapping via intrinsic reaction coordinates (IRC)

Developing Software Skills

• —Taught students to analyze and interpret Gaussian09 output data using Avogadro — an open-source molecular modeling and visualization tool.
• —Demonstrated molecule building, structure manipulation, and visualization techniques essential for understanding chemical phenomena at the molecular level.
• —Taught Python to extract geometry and potential values to build and plot potential energy surfaces.
• —Explained shell scripting for managing HPC jobs and workflows.

Instructional Resource Development

• —Produced and distributed a suite of instructional video tutorials supporting pre-class preparation and independent learning.
• —Topics included HPC access and navigation, Unix command line, cross-platform software installation (macOS, Linux, Windows), and molecular modeling workflows.

Teaching & Instruction

• —Conducted weekly undergraduate laboratory sessions, guiding students through experimental procedures and fostering a positive learning environment.
• —Explained complex chemistry concepts in a practical context to enhance understanding and retention in the lab.

Student Support & Mentoring

• —Held weekly office hours for one-to-one support on course material and addressed academic concerns individually.
• —Provided academic mentoring that contributed to improved course performance and student confidence.

Assessment & Feedback

• —Graded laboratory reports, in-class quizzes, and exams with a focus on fairness and accuracy.
• —Provided constructive feedback to improve students' scientific writing skills for chemistry labs.
• —Ensured timely grading and consistent assessment standards in coordination with the course instructor.

Organization & Collaboration

• —Coordinated with course instructors Dr. Vijay Vyas and Dr. Llanie Noble, and with other TAs, to provide feedback on experiment handouts, lab report templates, and grading rubrics aligned with course objectives.
• —Managed student records and maintained accurate grading documentation using D2L (Desire2Learn).

Teaching & Instruction

• —Facilitated weekly recitation sessions to reinforce lecture material, clarify complex concepts, and guide students through problem-solving exercises.
• —Developed and presented additional instructional content tailored to student needs and the course syllabus.

Engagement & Critical Thinking

• —Encouraged interactive discussions and critical thinking by posing conceptual questions and fostering collaboration through group discussion during recitations.
• —Responded to spontaneous student questions, adapting explanations in real time to improve comprehension.

Curriculum Support & Delivery

• —Assisted the instructor in aligning recitation topics with weekly lecture objectives and upcoming assessments.
• —Utilized a mix of whiteboard work, slides, and real-time demonstrations to accommodate diverse learning styles.